Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with boots

What color are these Dr. Martens?

Venadium — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:52:20 -0800

Does anyone recognize the exact color of these Doc Martens? The ones in that photo look like a nice stiff leather, and I really like the color. I ordered a pair from Zappos that I thought were the same ones, at least very close (I ordered 'Dark Brown California'), but the leather is really soft (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) and the color isn't exactly the same.

Am I going to have to get a pair of the more expensive vintage DMs to get what I'm looking for? Or does Zappos just not have the color I want?

State of the sidewalks in DC?

yarrow — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:49:46 -0800

How slushy are the streets in downtown Washington DC right now? I'm heading down to DC for the day tomorrow and attending a somewhat dressy event in the evening, and trying to decide which shoes to wear. Because of the nature of the event & my transportation I won't be able to carry much in the way of a bag, so cannot change shoes at any point. My options are: black Clarks similar to these or black snow boots similar to these. I'll be wearing a black suit. I'll be walking a bit, but not much - for a few blocks around H & 11th and a few blocks around 18th & K. I'd prefer the Clarks in terms of appropriateness for the event and comfort, but am wondering how the sidewalks are. Any first hand accounts from today?

Boots, boots, who's gonna find my boots?

allymusiqua — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:10:43 -0800

I'm in love with a boot...help me find them! So, I recently found these boots on a website found Mod Cloth and I fell in love, ordered them, then got an email saying they were all out of stock and there's no way Mod Cloth would get another shipping. Also, they're made by small companies so once they're sold out, they're sold out.

I don't believe them. So Mefis, where can I find them? If not the exact pair, do you know of any stores/websites that would sell something similar (that aren't outrageously expensive?)

Boot sizin'

little_c — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:54:35 -0800

How do I know if these boots are too small, or just need to stretch? I just bought a pair of knee high leather boots (these ones). They are a size 7, and I usually wear a size 7 or 7.5. Just tried them on (they came in the mail) and they are very tight around all parts of my foot - heel, top of the foot, sides, toes - and a little bit tight around the calf. Almost painfully tight around my foot.

I've never had a pair of real leather boots before. Should I exchange them for the size 7.5, or is this just what leather boots do?

Bringing Back the Boot

readery — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:03:48 -0800

When I buy used boots, how do I best clean and restore the leather? Settling in on a winter work uniform of skirts with boots, I've been buying some cute used boots. It's getting ready to snow and I've never conditioned leather before. Do I need to clean the leather first? Are there any standout products to use? Do I treat black, brown and tan differently?

Thanks!

Tsubo boots

little_c — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:06:48 -0800

How durable are Tsubo boots? I live in Chicago and have to walk to and from public transportation every day. I'd like a well-constructed, plain, casual boot for the winter and I am looking at these Tsubo boots.

How well made are Tsubo boots in general, if not these in particular? Could I get at least one winter out of them? I currently have fake leather black boots that after one year, the sole is separating from the heel, the black on the toe is scuffed off, and they leak, so I'd like to spend more money on a pair that.. won't get that way after a year.

Damn, but laces are a pain sometimes...

FatherDagon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:20:57 -0800

Looking for lace-in zippers for 14 hole boots. A friend of mine is looking for lace-in boot zippers like this, but it seems like they're almost exclusively for standard 9-10 hole boots, and not some big ol' 14 hole club stompers. Anyone know if 14 hole (or close, 12 might work) zippers are even made, and where to get them if they are?

Help me find these grey boots elsewhere. Or other disressed leather boots!

barnone — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:57:18 -0800

I've fallen head-over-heels in love with these gray boots from the Sundance catalogue. I love the color, the heel, the shape, and the overall style. They feel very me. But they're almost $300 when you include their exorbitant shipping fees. Ouch. Any suggestions on other similar boots or how to find these elsewhere? I'm totally willing to pay for great shoes. But these just feel overpriced with some kind of "Sundance Premium" when similar boots on Zappos and Endless go for $150-$200. And the Sundance shipping policies are really bothersome - the shipping for these boots is $21.95. If the sizing is wrong, I'll be out quite a bit of money.

Apparently they're not exclusive to Sundance. Have you ever seen these boots elsewhere? Or can you recommend really similar boots? Not just Blundstone pull-ons, but similar in material and shape? So many options seem to have the pointy-toed cowboy shape or the more formal squared-off toe. I like that these look somewhat distressed but also a bit stylish.
- I've tried these Frye Jaden Chelsea -- they are also my style, but a bit more heft/presence than I'm used to. The toe is also much pointier than it looks in those photos.
- The Engineer style of boots that seem to be ubiquitous right now are also another option, but these grey boots seem to fit into my aesthetic a bit more.
- I'm a (dykey/boyish) woman so I'm into both women's and men's shoes, but a very masculine shoe profile looks a bit out of place when paired with my everyday attire.

Any suggestions for similar boots under $150 or $200? Or do you know how to find these non-exclusive boots?

Admittedly I am kind of picky and if this is my only option, I'll probably wait for a sale or bite the bullet. But if you have any other leads, I would be incredibly grateful.

What kind of boots is the Governor of California wearing in Terminator 2?

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:47:32 -0800

I need ya cloz, ya bootz and ya motacycle. . . Actually, just the boots would be fine. Google turns up no discussion I can find about what make/model of boots they might be. I think the type of boot is called "Engineer."

Looking at this video at 3:25, you can clearly see the boots:

My theory is that they are either some type of steel toed Chippewa like this. Or a Carolina boot

I don't ride a motorcycle, never have, never will, and I purely want these boots for my birthday because I like how they look. Total poser move, hence the anon posting.

Does anyone know the specific kind of boot worn by the Terminator?

Work boots - need 'em!

brandman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:32:02 -0800

So, know of any good work boots? After going through a couple of cheap pairs of work boots in the past 5-6 years, I'm looking to make an investment in a nice pair that will last a long time. The normal use case would be yard work, snow shoveling, etc. - not much much walkin' around town or anything like that. The primary value proposition for me is (1) durable, (2) comfortable, (3) warm & dry. I'm aware of brands like Red Wing, Timberland, and Wolverine, and I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on those and any others. Thanks!

Fall, Winter, Early Spring Hiking Boots for Women

thewalrus — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:24:31 -0800

Metabootfilter: I'd like your suggestions for mid-rise ladies' hiking boots for use in a cold climate. Not really expensive, but good quality. Difficulty level: Ordering by size online without my wife trying them on... My wife is currently overseas in a third world country where such things as high quality hiking boots are not available. I will be going back there in a couple of weeks and taking many useful things for both of us in my checked luggage.

I'm looking for suggestions on high quality but not ridiculously expensive ladies' hiking boots. These would be for use in a moderately snowy climate ranging from -10C to +10C (about from now, to early April). She is a size 40.5 in European measurements for the last pair of shoes she bought, a pair of higher-end Adidas running shoes.

For myself, I have had good results ordering without test-fitting from the REI house brand boots which were made by Raichle in Switzerland (now part of Mammut.ch, I think). Can anyone offer first hand experience with the smaller and ladies' sizes of the same brand? Or other ideas?

What's the winter version of the work flat?

sciapod — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:23:52 -0800

Can you help a gal transition from summer flats to a more winter-appropriate work shoe? Winter's coming to Minnesota, and the flats I wear every day to work are no longer going to cut it: my toes are starting to get cold, and the shoes look dorky when worn with socks. It's time to transition to a more appropriate shoe for the weather, and I'm stuck.

I usually wear dress slacks (like this) or dark bootcut jeans to work, so I'm looking for footwear that I can wear with both trousers and jeans. Ideally, I'd like a shoe or boot with little or no heel, as my pants are hemmed for flats.

So, what sort of footwear do you fashionable ladies wear during the wintertime? Do I go for a boot? Most women's boots I see seem to be high-heeled or appear to be designed to go over skinny jeans or tights, not under dress slacks. Should I be looking into boot alternatives? Perhaps a fashionable loafer that can be worn with socks? I'm lost.

Suggestions welcome! And thank you.

These boots were made for walkin' in LA?

pointystick — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:17:23 -0800

What is appropriate fashion in fall and winter when in a warm or desert climate? I live in Atlanta where we have 4 disctinct seasons (albeit in no particular order!) but I'm hoping to spend more time in the Southwest - Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, Los Angeles, etc - both for fun and perhaps for work, but have no idea what to wear when it's fall (I'll be there this weekend) or winter (again around Christmas). Will my trousers and boots look silly? How about tweedy skirts or sweaters? I am most concerned about business wear (woman, 30s, casual to dressy office) and going out in the evenings. Does it matter if you stay inside where it's going to be air conditioned? Do desert-dwellers and southwesterners still hanker for wool and suede when the mercury outside is in the 70s? Thanks for your wisdom!

Need a solution to keep my sisters feet warm in ski boots.

no bueno — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:15:48 -0800

Need a solution to keep my sister's feet warm in ski boots. My sister has Raynaud's syndrome so whenever we go skiing she has to take constant breaks to go in and warm up. This year she's trying these Swany mittens that have an insert for handwarmers. We tried footwarmer inserts but her feet suck all the warmth out of them within minutes. I think she's going to need something battery powered but everything I've found online seems like it might be cheap(quality not price). Suggestions. Remember this is for skiing, socks would need to fit in the boots, so I'm guessing insoles might be the best bet?

Seeking wide calved boots!

youcancallmeal — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:50:40 -0800

Help me find a very specific type of wide-calf boot. My calves are 16 inches around, which puts me firmly in the (ass kicking) wide-calf range. I'm also short (5'4"), so some knee high boots are too tall. I'd like a pair that are between 12 and 14" tall from the floor, have a heel of 1" or less, are okay to wear in the rain and snow, don't have elastic on them, have good traction on the bottoms since I'm a huge klutz and come in a darkish brown. I'd like to spend no more than $250.

I've looked online, at Nordstrom's and at REI and haven't found anything. This is basically what I'm looking for, but the calves aren't big enough and they're more than I want to spend. These are also close, but I don't like the elastic.

Help! My calves are cold!

These Boots Were Made for Walkin' and Light Carpentry

Commander Rachek — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:11:22 -0800

I need to buy a pair of steel-toe work boots. The problem: I am a woman with large-ish feet -- large enough that I have some trouble buying sneakers. Depending on the manufacturer, I wear a women's size 10 - 11, inclusive, with a medium width. Any tips on finding a pair that fits well? If I can't find well-fitting women's boots, are narrow men's boots a viable alternative? I'll be doing the purchasing in Northern Virginia. I've heard from multiple sources that Red Wing is a good brand for work boots, so I was going to head down to the Red Wing store in the Springfield Mall. Can I expect to find large enough women's sizes there?

I'll be using them for carpentry and occasional welding in a scenery shop.

Help me find these boots...

likeapen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:51:19 -0800

Where can I find these boots or something similar?

There was a young woman who lived in her shoes

mippy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:14:29 -0800

I need to replace my flat brown boots. The problem - they need to be a UK size 9. I have a lovely pair of suede boots (they look a little like these or these albeit with a dark rather than white sole) I bought for about £15 six years ago, and they are past their best. They have a sturdy sole - unlike the thin flat soles many 'fashion' shoes and boots have - which is hard-wearing and comfortable. They are flat, so unlike my cowboy boots, I can walk far in them. They are 'pirate boots' - as in, slouchy mid-calf boots that have a strap and buckle at the top - which is great as a lot of boots seem to be designed for people with far more slender legs than I. They are flat, so unlike my cowboy boots, I can walk far in them. And they are the brown colour of Milka chocolate, so go with pretty much everything I want to wear in the winter. As I can't get an exact replacement - the store that made them closed down - I've been looking for a new pair. The problem is that I'm not finding anything that will fit a size 9/42, or if I do, they have last-a-week thin soles, or too much of a heel, or are biker boots which might end up looking odd with a dress. (I#ve been told that high-end brands do shoes for bigger feet, but the cost would mean that I would have to live in my boots in lieu of paying the rent.) Help me!

Help end my girlfriend's dream-boot obsession

latentflip — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:21:29 -0800

My girlfriend is looking for her dream boots. She's already seen them walking around on two random women, but needs help finding them online. Her description: Black riding boots with a wide tan cuff on top, Italian leather, not patent. Short/no heels. Have you seen these?

Keeping crepe soles clean?

Lentrohamsanin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:32:58 -0800

I've recently acquired a pair of crepe soled boots (some good ol' Wallabees) and I love them to bits. But the light colored sole gets grimy fast. Any tips for keeping the soles clean and in good condition? The company suggests:

We would recommend getting most of the dirt off with an over the counter spray cleaner like 409. To remove any remaining debris use a medium grit sand paper.

Would you add anything to that, or do you have a completely different regimen to suggest? Thanks!

Keep my feet dry and my look intact

kevin-o — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:37:13 -0800

What boots can I wear that will keep my feet dry and look good with business clothes? I have a job that requires me to wander between different schools throughout New York City. Some days I wear a suit, and some days I wear pants, shirt, and tie. What waterproof boots can work with my work wardrobe?

These boots aren't made for walking...yet

B-squared — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:07:40 -0800

I just bought a pair of amazing leather boots. They were the last pair. I'm not returning them. However, they're knee-high and the left one is a little too tight on my calf. I can still wear them, but I'm looking for advice as to how to stretch them, just a little, to make them more comfortable in the short term. I imagine that they'll naturally stretch a bit over time, but I'm hoping for a quicker fix. Anyone?

Give 'em the boot!

Bookhouse — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:34:40 -0800

What brand of (mens) boots should I buy if I want something like Doc Martens but I don't want to buy Doc Martens? I've always liked the black boots look that is typified by Doc Martens, but I don't think much of the construction of modern Docs. I'd like to find boots that look good, will last forever and are lightweight (which tends to rule out the work boots and combat boots at the local Army surplus). As long as they're good for walking, I don't mind a little form over function. I'm willing to spend some good money on these, as I hardly ever buy shoes and like them to last for years.

I live in L.A., so brands and styles available here are preferable to things I'd have to mail order, but I'm open to all suggestions.

How does Spider-Man climb walls while wearing gloves and boots?

Caviar — Sat, 09 May 2009 11:30:21 -0800

How does Spider-Man climb walls while wearing gloves and boots? I understand that he can stick to walls, but how is this supposed to work through his gloves and boots? Is this ever explained?

If it's something about his gloves and boots, why can't normal people wear them and climb walls?

How do I find out more about the Texas Brand Boot Company?

fructose — Sat, 02 May 2009 09:20:46 -0800

Seeking history of the Texas Brand Boot Company. I have a pair of vintage ladies cowboy boots, and I'm trying to guesstimate how old they are. They could also possibly be girls boots, because they are a size 5, which is usually a size you find both in kids and women's shoes. The company that made them, Texas Brand Boots (which was actually based in Tennessee), seems to be defunct as of the past few years. Apparently, their niche was affordable American-made boots. The oldest mention I can find of them are late '70s print ads on eBay.

My boots seem older than late '70s due to the style, construction, and materials, even compared to the ones in the ads and on eBay. I have no way of confirming this, however, without more info on whether the company even existed before that. I don't care if they're not older, since I bought them for their looks, not their age, but I'm just curious.

Does anyone know where I can find more info on this company's history? Or know that they were around before 1978?